A Place of Brightness: Io Saturnalia

Monday, December 17, 2012

Io Saturnalia

Today, December 17th, marks the beginning of the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia. It was a delightful holiday, lasting through December 23rd, in honor of the pre-Olympian titan Saturn. It recalled a Golden Age in which institutions such as slavery did not exist. As such, during Saturnalia, the slave-masters actually reversed the roles and waited on tables for their slaves. It was a time of games, gambling, and partying.

In my Latin classes, I use the final day before Winter Break to have a Saturnalia party, in which I will serve each of them with a Twizzler and sing Christmas Carols in Latin.

So let the games begin! Io Saturnalia! One and All!

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1 comment:

David JusticeJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Masters serving their slaves: Compare (at a higher level) the foot-washing on Maundy Thursday.
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Monday, December 17, 2012

Io Saturnalia

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